The Music School of Delaware Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE MUSIC SCHOOL OF DELAWARE TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 138
- Volunteers
- 62
- Highest pay
- $45,097, president and ceo (thru 10/24)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $2.0 million spent. IN FY25, THE MUSIC SCHOOL OF DELAWARE SERVED YOUTH AND ADULT STUDENTS THROUGH OUR STATEWIDE ARRAY OF COMMUNITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, OFFERED AT EIGHT LOCATIONS IN URBAN, EXURBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY ONE-ON-ONE PERSONALIZED MUSIC INSTRUCTION THROUGH PRIVATE LESSONS; TO HAVE SUPPORTED STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH ENSEMBLE PROGRAMS LIKE DELAWARE YOUTH SYMPHONY, CANTABILE WOMEN'S CHORALE, AND WILMINGTON COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA; AND THROUGH INTENSIVE AND FAMILY-FOCUSED MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE MELODY (FREE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR UNDERSERVED WILMINGTON YOUTH), SUZUKI (RESEARCH-PROVEN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM), AND EARLY CHILDHOOD (SUPPORTING AGES SIX MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS IN MOTOR SKILL AND FAMILY BONDING THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION). IN FY22, THE MUSIC SCHOOL RECEIVED A BEQUEST OF $10 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THE NORTHROP ENDOWED FUND FOR MUSIC EDUCATION. INCOME FROM THAT FUND CAN BE APPLIED ONLY TO CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS IN LIMITED AMOUNTS AND FOR NO MORE THAN TWO YEARS FOR ANY STUDENT, AND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF THE FUND, AND THE FUND'S PRINCIPAL CANNOT BE USED FOR OPERATING EXPENSES. ACCORDINGLY, THE TERMS OF THE BEQUEST SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT THE EXTENT OF FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE MUSIC SCHOOL. IN 2025, THE MUSIC SCHOOL CELEBRATED A CENTURY OF PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.